The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1887-10-29

would do for lark in those DAYS. We
| WORKED ,hG Old canoe loose in sune
| way. md got IN. 1t was twenty feet
long, | reckon, and we did not make
much OF load. Gii.ogly GO: in the
| bow aud L IL the stern to steer. 1t was
not long until we were in the rapids,
and when we got fairly under their in .
fluence our big canoe did not seem 10
be more than u feather. We weie
swung from one side to the other as =
risulet would toss straw. Once Or
twice We came near broachiBg 10, but
by vigorous yelling al each other aud
superhuman exertion we managed TO
keep 'end on All this in minute or
40 OF time. We hadn't more than half
made the run before we came to grief
The stern of the canoe swung in
toward the right bank, and rs l was
working with all my might to throw
il out in the stream [ failed to notice
an Overhanging limb OF tree that
reached nearly 10 the water. When
we came to it, it swept me out Of the
canoe pretty much AZ one might brush
a fly off the corner nf q table. IneVer
felt as light in my lie as l did while in
that water. Il tossed me about as il i
had been cork. Fortunately 1 didn'I
sllike any rocks, nor strangle when 4
was turned over and over by the tumb-
ling waters. l got to the bank pretty
quickly, and when ! did it was 10 see
the cunoe, about hundred yards
below, total wreck. When l went
out control OF the thing was entirely
lost, and coming to long log EXTEND
ing over the water the end OF the canoe
went under it, became fast, the other
end swung around in the stream and
the craft broke in two, spilling its
whole load about as unceremoniOusly
as it had dumped me. l believe my loss
by the accident was the most serious.
! had taken off my coat, containing my
pipe and tobacco, my shoes and stock
ings, none of which were recovered.
This was pretty severe as / had never
gone barefoot in my lite, and the road
to camp was covered with flinty rocks.
However, l managed to get back. The
next day the owner of the canoe came
into camp and demanded payment.
Six dollars, think, was the value be
placed on his primitive gondola. We
convinced him that in its old and ten
der condition it wasn't worth the
money, and compromised on the pay
ment of two or three dollars. We had
many a good laugh over the adventure
but while it was 'a-happen-
ing it wasn't very funny.
Two or three more ducking stories
were told, when we all got sleepy and
went to bed.
Morning OH the Gasconade. Very
early morning. The gray of daybreak
just perceptible. The cook is up first
looking at the weather-signs. A dense
fog covers the face Of the waters. 1he
boats, but q few steps away, are barely
visible riding lightly in their little cove.
Scraps raises his head and looks for a
sign. Poor fellow, he cannot heart
The cook pOkes his head In at the tent
door, and with yell that might have
been heard a half mile, halls the boys
with, "Hey, you fellows; going on to
noon! What are you sleeping your
senses away like that for2 Turn out,
and let's be mOving" Pretty soon q
good fire is cracking away, the coffee
is made, a dish of something piping hot
is prepared, and breakfast is ready. In
the mean time the tent has been struck
and the bedding tied up. So we enjoy
our breakfast comfortably and leisurely,
and still get afloat before the fog has
raised. Take it all together this was
the redletter day of our trip. The
fog soon dispersed, giving place to a
gloriOusly bright sunshine, which
away from the fire was necessary for
Ten or twelve miles of the
river were passed over, the scenery Of
which was lovely, and the rapids were
among the prettiest and most exciting
we had seen. After fishing awhile the
cook concluded to try for some turkeys
and accordingly was landed on the LETT
bank of the river at the foot of q wild
and rugged looking mountain. He
hadn't walked far until he realized that
the chances were slim. The ground
was covered with dead leaves, big.
round, dry, stiff leaves, as they are
early in the autumn, moving through
which in silence is matter of impOssi-
bility. There was only one thing for
it, to try the art of "sitting on log.'>
There are grand possibilities in this
'art" when it is patiently practiced in
likely places for game. had not been
seated long i'm u leafy little bower.
partly natural and partly constructed
with two or three oak sprouts, until
heard on an opposite hill short dis
lance away, the gobble of q turkey
cock and the tender response of tho
hen, the old, old, old story beng re-
peated here under the green and leafy
;anopies of the grand old forest trees,
he wooing of the male and the shy re-
'pOnse of the lOve-smitten mate. Pres
entity there seemed from the gobbling,
and scratching to be several
,l the wary, 1.-THE and nimbIe creatures
n the party. could hear them plain.
y, but could not see them. was
afraid to move, for the least noise in
hose rustliDg leaves would have sent
hem scurrying away in the silent, yet
Ong and effective stride for winch they
IRE noted. With my gun at full cock
ying in my lap, peering out from
amidst the oak leaves l waited patient
y to get o shot, though l knew it
would be long one. For some min
ltes, they seemed long to me, | con-
inmed TO hear the gobbling, clucking
'cratching, bnt finally it died away in
he distance without my getting q
glimpse of the turkeys.B l. patiently 8.
waited for them to stroll hack my way.
,nt they didn't come, and though was
'mong good squirrel timber did not
:atch even a glimpse of q curly tail, so
liter while made my way back to
he river, without game, but with an
experience that had put the woods
ever to coursing through my veins,
tder vas volen sac, the days run OF the
liver had to be made and had TO give
t up. When got to the river found
hat Will had padded ON before, and l
ook passage in the big boat to over
axe him and resume my place. When
We got within hailing distance OF him
Will began pantomime which every
isherDan understands. He mot,oned
o us so take roundings' and to coma
O his boat from down the stream, "a
u certain place he was catching fish.
1f course we obeyed, and coming
oftly from below transferred myself
rom one boat to the other as noiseiess- I
y as moccasinsd foot would walk
'ver soft grass plot. The other boys
ilently hoated away, and then l had
eisure to look at my friend, Willum,
md he presented picture. 1t seems
when he reached this point he observ-
I'd pool, just above the roots of an
overturned tree lying embedded in the
tream, and he concluded to make a
last there. lie quietly dropped ont
III anchor, one of winch was ready in
either end of the boat. and made his